Basic work with objects

The report consists of objects that are intended to display text and graphics. The objects are also bands, page and object itself.

The basic work is labeling, selecting, deleting, moving, resizing and setting up a new object.

Selecting the object

If you want to move the object, change the size or properties, you must first select it. Select the object by clicking on it with the mouse. The object gets the platter, which means it is currently selected. Simultaneously select multiple objects by holding down the Shift key and clicking objects. You can also select more objects by holding down the Ctrl key and pressing and holding the left mouse button. Drag the mouse over the work surface. A dashed rectangle appears. All objects, which are entirely or partially in this rectangle, are selected. When we have selected the desired objects, we release the mouse button.

Deleting the object

Delete the object by selecting it and pressing the Delete key.

Moving the object

To move the object, use the mouse to place on it. The pointer gets the shape of a hand. Press and hold the left mouse button and move the mouse to the new location. There, the left button is lowered and the object remains in that place. In case when we move an object which is connected to another object, this one also moves.

Resizing the object

First we select the object. Then we place ourselves in the corner of the object, where the mouse pointer changes the shape. The mouse pointer changes to the line with arrows at both ends. Press and hold the left mouse button and drag the mouse in the desired direction.

Hiding objects

We hide the objects by selecting a checkmark in the Visible properties in the context menu. If this setting has a band, all the objects on it are also hidden.

Setting up the new object

If you want to put a new object on the report, you first click on the icon with the object type in the object toolbar. Move the mouse over the work surface and click on the place where you want to place it. You will review the process below - when creating a new custom report.

Setting up a grid for mapping objects

When moving objects on the report, they are difficult to align, as the objects are moved in by a continuous form. Therefore, you can setup a grid that allows you to move through certain steps. You set the grid properties in the designer options window. You can turn it on or off in the standard toolbar by clicking the button . By clicking the button , you allow objects to be automatically attached to the grid.

Editing text

Editing the text is usually in text fields, but it is possible to add text along the system fields.

In example, we will replace the text in the "Workers" field with a new "Report of Workers and Their Addresses".

We do this by double-clicking on the object. Replace the old text with a new one by deleting the old text and entering a new one.

Click the OK button in the Memo window, we confirm the new text. Expand the box with the new text if necessary.

Hiding objects

You can hide objects using right click menu on the object and use the Visible property in the context menu. If this setting has a band, all the objects on it are also hidden.

Deleting objects

Objects on the printouts can be deleted. However, some objects also have a program code on a report that determines their properties. If we delete such an object, we must also delete all the program code that applies to it. If we move such an object to another band, we must also move the corresponding code there. Otherwise, a window with an error message will appear.

Changing of properties of objects

We access the properties of objects by selecting the object. In the View menu, select the Toolbars | Object Inspector. In the window that appears, we can determine the properties mentioned in the tables below.

An important feature of objects within the band, which can be set only in the object inspector, is Align.

Before moving objects, it is advisable to change the property Align to the baNone in the object inspector, and then change it again to its own needs.
The vast majority of objects on system reports have the Align property different from baNone, which means they are tied to either on the edge of the band or to each other.

Formatting data objects

For formatting we can also use the functions that we write in the code. For example, we use FormatFloat to format numbers.

The following expressions write out the whole part of the number and its first two decimal places:

[FormatFloat('#0', Int(n)]
[FormatFloat('00', Round(100 * Frac(n))))]

Data formatting can also be done within the expression (inline formatting), as shown in the example below

Today is [NOW #d dddd], [NOW #d d.m.yyyy], the time is [NOW #d hh.mm.ss].

Format specifications do not affect the data format that is entered in the program code on the report or code in the program.

Some more useful formats:

Numbers

Date and time

In case of data fields, HideZeros must be included if it is possible that data is not entered, otherwise "strange" values are displayed. This feature can also be included in all date fields.

Special objects

Bar code
 

We open the 02A report that is in the in the menu Settings | Idents, clicking on the reports button and in the reports of the items window, selected report is opened and saved with a new name.

From the object toolbar, we add the object with a barcode  to the MasterData on the report. The dialog box below opens.

Select values (as shown in the picture). If we do not know which type of code to choose, we select the type of Code128A code because it can be read with a barcode reader.

Place the object in the desired location and stretch it. Define the properties of DataField and DataSet (as shown in the picture). Always select the query that is specified for the band on which the object lies, and the field from the same query.

 


Item picture from items register

Add an image object on the report and set the DataSet (data source) property to the qMSIzpisSif in the Object Inspector window and the DataField property (data field) on the acPicture.

Conditional highlighting

With conditional coloring, we can emphasize the values in certain objects in reports, of course, under certain conditions that we define.

We do this by marking the object. We select a button on the text-processing toolbar. Enter the condition in the Condition field (as shown in the image) and other design attributes.

Object Engine

Engine Engine manages printing of reports. With its use it is possible to print very special forms of prints.



Picture - object Engine

Engine properties and methods: